Spring-wheel.



T. P. BURGER.

SPRING WHEEL.

APPLloATloN FILED 19513.14, 1912.

Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

F1@ ff THOMAS P. HORGER, 0F ORANGEBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA.

SPRING-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application led February 14, 1912.

Patented Dec. 31, 1912. Serial No. 677/107.

T o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS P. HORGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Orangeburg, in the county of Orangeburg, State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-Wheels; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in spring wheels.

he principal object of the invention is to provide a vehicle wheel which is designated to embody all the advantages of a pneumatic tired wheel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wheel which includes a hub, a plurality of yieldable spokes and a plurality of separate felly sections respectively pivotally connected to the outer ends of the spokes and yieldably connected to each other, thereby not only permitting of the spokes yielding when passing over stones or other obstructions, but at the same time per` mitting a limited pivotal movement between an adjacent pair of felly sections.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sectional felly for wheels of the character described in which an improved means are provided for connecting the adjacent ends of the sections, whereby said sections will be held in their normal positions.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a spring wheel of the character described which is composed of a relatively few number of parts, is therefore simple in construction, and is cheap to manufacture.

Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages vof the invention.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a partial view of a wheel constructed in accordance with my invention, parts thereof being shown in i section, Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l, and Fig. 3

is a detail sectional view taken on the line che of Fig. i.

Like reference numerals designate corresponding' parts in all the gures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, the invention comprises a hub A, a plurality of spokes B and a felly C. The spokes B each include an inner tubular section 5 and an outer telethe former being connected to the h coil spring 7 is disposed within the inner section 5 below the outer section 6 and tends to normally press the latter section outwardly. The felly C is formed from a plurality of spaced arcuate wooden sections 8. These sections are spaced equi-distant apart, and are yieldingly held in such relation by means of springs 9, said springs being respectively disposed between the ends of adjacent sections.

Secured to the inner face of each section 8 is a longitudinal metallic plate l0, the ends lOa thereof projecting beyond the ends of the section. The adjacentends l0a of adjacent sections are disposed in overlapping relation and the outer plate 10 has its extreme end inwardly bent to form a stop A boxing D partially embraces the overlapping ends 10Zt of said plates, and this boxing includes a bottom l1, side walls l2-12 and an end wall 13, the latter being disposed opposite the stop 10b of the outer plate, and forming a stop for the respective end of the inner plate. Transversely disposed roller bearings 14 are disposed between the overlapping ends 10a of said plates, and these bearings have their ends j ournaled in the side walls 12 of the boxing It is to be observed in this connection that the stop l()b is disposed in spaced relation to the end 1021 of the inner plate, and the end wall or stop 13 is disposed in spaced relation to the end 10a of the outer plate.

It .will furthermore be observed that adjacent plates 10 are capable of having respective longitudinal movements one with the other.

Centrally depending from each plate l0 is a pair of spaced perforated ears 15-15 between which the outer ends of the outer sections 6 of the spokes B are disposed and are pivotally connected by pivot pins 16. As a result of this construct-ion, it will be observed that the sections 8 of the felly C are capable of having longitudinal rocking movements upon the outer ends of the spokes, but are yieldingly held in their normal positions by means ot the springs 9.

In order to support the meeting ends 105L ot the plates 10 when adjacent sections are oscillated, there 'is-secured to the inner tace ot adjacent ends ot adjacent sections a pair ot brackets 17-l7, the inner ends ot each bracket being` biturcated to torm yokes .which are respectively adapted to receive the ends ot an arcuate supporting bar 18. Centrally projecting trom the outer tace ot this bar and integral therewith is a post 19. r1`his post is disposed directly below a respective boxing D, and is termed at its outer end with a recess 2O in which a plurality ot transversely disposed roller bearings 21 are journaled, said bearings having engagement with the bottom 11 ot said boxing. Formed in each end ot the supporting bar 18 is a longitudinal vertical opening 22 and transversely disposed horizontal openings 28, the latter communicating with the tormer. Centrally disposed within the opening 22 is a sliding block 24, and carried by this block and projecting through the openings 23 is a pivot pin 25, the ends ot said pin having pivotal engagement with the yoke ot a respective bracket 17. Coil springs 26-26 are disposed within the vertical openings 22 on -either side ot the block 24, and serve to yieldingly retain said block centrally within the opening.

From the toregoing, it will be observed that when the wheel tends to pass over a stone or any other obstruction the adjacent section 8 ot the telly will be oscillated, and as a result ot the construction above outlined, the supporting bar 18 will swing upon its pivot 25, thereby retaining the post 19 in its proper relation with respect to the boxing D. By means ot the coil springs 26, which are carried by the supporting bar 18, said bar will be permitted to yield longitudinally, and thereby serve to retain the post in its proper position with respect to the boxing.

In order to protect the wooden sections 8 and also to exclude dust and dirt trom the parts above described, there is provided a plurality ot inverted lU-shaped casings E, each casing being disposed over and secured to a respective section 8 by means ot transverse bolts or other suitable tastening means. The adjacent ends ot these casings are preferably disposed in overlapping relation, as will be readily observed trom an inspection et Fig. 1 ot the drawing.

The outer end ot each inner section 5 is exteriorly threaded tor engagement with a packing nut QT which will prevent oil or other lubricant which has been placed in the element trom working out.

Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a spring wheel, the combination with a hub, ot a telly comprising a plural- Vcent sections,

ity ot spaced sections, a longitudinally disposed plate secured to the inner tace ot each section and projecting beyond the ends thereot, the adjacent ends ot adjacent plates being disposed in overlapping relation, a boxing partially embracing the overlapping ends ot each adjacent pair ot plates, transverse roller bearings journaled in said boxing and disposed intermediate the overlapping ends ot the plates, coil springs respectively disposed between the ends ot adjaand supporting means tor the boxings pivotally connected to the adjacent ends ot the sections.

2. In a spring wheel, the combination with a hub, ot a telly comprising a plurality ot spaced sections, a longitudinally disposed. plate secured to the inner tace ot each section and projecting beyond the ends thereot, the adjacent ends ot adjacent plates being disposed in overlapping relation, brackets connected to the opposite ends ot each section, a supporting bar to adjacent brackets ot adjacent sections, and a post projecting trom the bar tor normally holding the overlapping ends ot the plates against inward movement.

3. 1n a spring wheel, the combination with a hub, ot a telly comprising a plurality ot spaced sections, a longitudinally disposed plate secured to the inner tace ot each section and projecting beyond the ends thereof, the adjacent ends ot adjacent plates being pivotally connected disposed in overlapping relation, the eX-` treme end ot the outer plate being inwardly bent to torm a stop, a boxing partially embracing the overlapping ends ot each adjacent pair ot plates, said boxing including a bottom, side walls and end wall, the end wall projecting outwardly beyond the end ot the inner plate, transverse roller bearings journaled in the side wall ot the bracket and disposed between the overlapping ends ot said plates, and supporting means tor the boxings pivotally connected to the adjacent ends ot the sections.

et. In a. spring wheel, the combination with a hub, ot a telly comprising a plurality ot spaced sections, resilient spokes extending trom the hub and having pivotal connections with the sections ot the telly, yieldable connections between adjacent sections, brackets connected to the opposite ends ot each section, a supporting bar pivotally connected to adjacent brackets ot adjacent sections, and a post projecting trom the bar tor normally holding the yieldable connections between the sections against inwar movement.

5. lnl a spring wheel, the combination with a hub, ot a telly comprising a plurality ot spaced sections, resilient spokes extending trom the hub and having pivotal connections with adjacent sections ot the telly, yieldable connections between adjacent sections, brackets connected to the opposite former, a block centrally located within vertical slot in each slot transverse jecting th on opposite si pin carried by springs resp des of the blo the block and rough the horizontal slots ends ing in yokes at pporting bar disposed connection, each bar end with a vertical versely disposed eating with the each ectively disposed ck, a proand having pivotal connection with the yokes of the respective brackets, and a post projecting from the bar for normally holding the yieldable connections between the sections against inward movement.

In testimony whereof, I aiHX my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS P. HORGER.

Witnesses:

T. O. HIBBLE, W. P. BRUNsoN.

. E Gopes of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. N 

